For those who are about to rock

MGMHarry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, from left, are Derek Smalls, Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins, respectively, in the 1984 rock mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap."

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- My prayers go out --- although I fear they may be too late --- to the family of Natasha Richardson. This sort of tragedy shouldn't happen to anyone, but having in the past interviewed Natasha, her sister Joely Richardson and husband Liam Neeson --- I can say that this is a family that exemplifies what the acting profession should be all about. Truly, truly sad.

You know how a phrase or word that you've never heard before suddenly crosses your plate several times in a short period of time? I still remember, back when I was in high school, the gelatin dish known as aspic coming up in conversation three times in one day. What the heck?

I'm having a similar experience this week with movies. I've watched, for the very first time ever, the 1984 rock mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap," directed by Rob Reiner. At the same time I've seen a new documentary about a real metal band that's seen better days, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," opening in (some) theaters April 10.

I was struck by how very subtle "Spinal Tap" is. Its humor is never really laugh-out loud. It's a mockumentary in the truest sense of the word in that it lays out a unique cultural milieu and lets the absurdity speak for itself.

To be honest, I've found the commentary on the film more amusing, as Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer are in character as David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls, lo these many years later. It's all "isn't that guy dead now?" and so forth -- fun stuff. Granted, the film's cameos are a hoot --- yes, that really is Billy Crystal as a mime, and Fran Drescher (excellent as a publicist), and even Anjelica Huston, I've no idea why.

For my money, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" has more laughs per minute than "Spinal Tap," although this docu about a Canadian metal band that briefly hit it big in the 1980s and has since returned straight to oblivion is completely, unforgivably true.

There's just no way to sugarcoat the humiliation of going on tour in Transylvania, of all places, and playing to all of 174 people, with a manager you found on the Internet who can't even manage to get the band train tickets (but who will later marry one of your bandmates). If you liked "This is Spinal Tap," you'll love "Anvil! The Story of Anvil."

I'm probably going to be speaking to Anvil's two founding members --- lead guitarist Steve (Lips) Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner (no joke) --- next week, so stay tuned.